AgDay Daily Recap -May 20, 2013

GOOD MORNING I'M CLINTON GRIFFITHS. THE SENATE IMMIGRATION REFORM BILL COULD MAKE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE EARLY THIS WEEK. MEANWHILE, SOME CALIFORNIA FARMERS ARE DESPERATE FOR LABOR AND SAY HEIGHTENED SECRUITY ON THE BORDERS ISN'T NECESSARILY THE ANSWER. NATIONAL REPORTER TYNE MORGAN SHOWS US THE HOW OPINIONS DIFFER WHEN LABOR IS AT STAKE. COMING UP TOMORROW, TYNE CONTINUES HER FOCUS ON IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION. SHE'LL TALK ABOUT HOW A LACK OF LABOR COULD CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE OF WHAT'S GROWN IN THE GOLDEN STATE.

CROP WATCH:

FROM LATE SEASON FREEZES TO SCOTCHING HEAT. IT'S BEEN A WILD RIDE THIS SUMMER. DESPITE IT ALL FARMERS ARE MAKING HEADWAY WITH SUMMER CROPS. MIKE HOFFMAN HAS DETAILS IN THIS MORNING'S CROP WATCH.

CATTLE ON FEED:

LATE FRIDAY THE USDA RELEASED IT'S LATEST CATTLE ON FEED REPORT. IT LOOKS AT THE NUMBER OF CATTLE AND CALVES ON FEED IN FEEDLOTS OF ONE-THOUSAND HEAD OR MORE.

WEST TEXAS FIRE:

THE CAUSE OF THE WEST, TEXAS FERTILIZER FACILITY EXPLOSION KILLING 14 PEOPLE HAS BEEN UNDER INVESTIGATION.LAST WEEK OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THEY STILL DON'T HAVE ANY ANSWERS.

FARMLAND VALUES:

LAST WEEK, SEVERAL REPORTS CAME OUT REGARDING FARMLAND VALUES. IT SHOWS PRICES CONTINUE TO RISE IN SOME PLACES...BUT THERE ARE SIGNS THE GAINS ARE MODERATING.

FERTILIZER:

IN AGRIBUSINESS KOCH NITROGEN COMPANY SAYS ITS PLANNING TO BUILD A NEW UREA PLANT IN ENID OKLAHOMA. THE ONE BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE FERTILIZER PRODUCTION BY MORE THAN 1 MILLION TONS A YEAR. THE PLANT IS SET TO BE UP AND RUNNING BY 2016.

ANALYSIS:

LATER TODAY, USDA WILL ROLL OUT IT'S CROP PROGRESS REPORT. IT'S LIKELY TO SHOW A BIG JUMP IN PLANTING AND FIELD WORK FOR SUMMER CROPS. AL PELL DISCUSSES THE IMPACT THAT COULD HAVE MARKETS GOING FORWARD.

FARM MOM:

AND MONSANTO JUST ANNOUNCED THE WINNER OF THIS YEAR'S FARM MOM OF THE YEAR.

FARMSTEAD CHEESE:

IT'S NO SECRET AMERICANS HAVE A LOVE AFFAIR WITH CHEESE. FROM WINE TO CHOCOLATE, THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF PERFECT PARTNERS. IN FACT, ARTISAN OR FRESH FARMSTEAD CHEESES ARE GAINING FAVOR WITH CONSUMERS. IN ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY VIRGINIA, ONE DAIRY IS PROVING THAT POINT...SEEING CHEESE AS FAST AS IT CAN BE MADE.
SHERRI MCKINNEY WITH THE VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU HAS THE STORY.

CORNELL GRANT:

HOW A BRAIN FUNCTIONS COULD IMPACT OBESITY AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT TWO MAJOR UNIVERSITIES ARE LOOKING INTO.

TASTE VS CALORIE:

AND RESEARCHERS AT YALE SAY IT MAY NOT THE TASTE OF FOOD THAT CAUSES PEOPLE TO OVEREAT.IT MIGHT ACTUALLY BE THE CALORIES AND HOW THE BRAIN REACTS. THAT'S ACCORDING TO A NEW STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL CURRENT BIOLOGY. THE FINDINGS SUGGEST THAT CERTAIN BRAIN CIRCUITS KICK IN WHEN PEOPLE EAT--ONE RELATES TO FLAVOR THE OTHER RESPONDS TO BLOOD GLUCOSE. THE SCIENTISTS FOUND THAT EVEN WHEN PEOPLE COULDN'T TASTE ADDED CALORIES, THEY PREFERED TO EAT THE HIGHER CALORIE FOODS. THEY SAY IT'S THE BLOOD GLUCOSE REGULATOR THAT MAY BE A MORE IMPORTANT DRIVER IN EATING.

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